From: PA Bear [MS MVP] on
> Yes it had an antivirus on it before but it expired and...

Do not pass Go!

Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT
fix this!

HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and
before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been
freshly formatted:

4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

Other helpful references include:

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029

NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application
(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).

Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx

Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

Jack Bostick wrote:
> Yes it had an antivirus on it before but it expired and i was installing a
> new one on there? So there is no way i got back to the previous month to
> undo this?????
>
> "Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Well your Dad could always "PAY" for support
>> and get worse support.
>>
>> (Sorry He needs to realize the effort)
>>
>> Also he doesn't "Lose" any files
>> just installed applications.
>>
>> if this PC has NEVER had any AV on it
>> I'd consider this Lucky
>> That you aren't having more issues....
>>
>> So is the issue Just that he's not happy?
>> or that applications aren't installed?
>>
>> Also Did you find any viruses?
>> Russs
>>
>> --
>> Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
>> MCP, MCPS, MCNPS, SBSC
>> Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
>> 24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
>> Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
>> Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com
>>
>>
>> "Jack Bostick" <Jack Bostick(a)discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:C598D2B6-4F8B-42B4-A02D-76F3AEEC2F37(a)microsoft.com...
>>> i WAS TRING TO INSTALL AN ANTIVURUS on my dads computer and when it
>>> started
>>> it said makeing a restore point. Somehow it restore back to 2003, and no
>>> restore points before the 13th not even the one that it made when i was
>>> instaaling program, HELP, dads nnot to pleased with me and i am 1.5 hrs
>>> away
>>>
>>> TIA
>>>
>>> Jack

From: Jack Bostick on
It went back to 2003 because I seen Notron antivirus 2003. And as for the
rest of your undermining question. Forget about them. I was ther at his house
WHEN I DID THIS, not him. AV was called Threat, Mcafee expired 1 month ago,
and do you have to keep posting the same reply??

"Jack Bostick" wrote:

> i WAS TRING TO INSTALL AN ANTIVURUS on my dads computer and when it started
> it said makeing a restore point. Somehow it restore back to 2003, and no
> restore points before the 13th not even the one that it made when i was
> instaaling program, HELP, dads nnot to pleased with me and i am 1.5 hrs away
>
> TIA
>
> Jack
From: Jack Bostick on
Yes it had an AV on it that expireda month ago, so i was goiung to put Threat
AV on it. Like I said before it installed it said make a restore point. No
Viruses. And I am not happy that i lost all his files and pictures he had of
the grandchildren

Thanks

"Jack Bostick" wrote:

> i WAS TRING TO INSTALL AN ANTIVURUS on my dads computer and when it started
> it said makeing a restore point. Somehow it restore back to 2003, and no
> restore points before the 13th not even the one that it made when i was
> instaaling program, HELP, dads nnot to pleased with me and i am 1.5 hrs away
>
> TIA
>
> Jack
From: Shenan Stanley on
Jack Bostick wrote:
> It went back to 2003 because I seen Notron antivirus 2003. And as
> for the rest of your undermining question. Forget about them. I was
> ther at his house WHEN I DID THIS, not him. AV was called Threat,
> Mcafee expired 1 month ago, and do you have to keep posting the
> same reply??

Well - I did it twice because you did not answer any of the questions. They
were pretty straight forward and you did leave out the details I requested
that might assist people in helping you fix the problem.

I know you are probably frustrated, but there was nothing wrong with the
questions I asked or how they were asked. You may be 'sensitive' right now
because something is messed up and you feel obligated to fix it. I get
that. However - it doesn't change your situation and with the right
information - someone might be able to help you. You did not provide it and
I pointed that out and asked you what needed to be asked. Nothing more. If
you took it as attacking you, "undermining" you, you were mistaken due to
your likely state of panic over what happened.

Now - Norton AV 2003 appearing is strange - but not proof the system got
'restored' to a previous state/back to 2003. It may have been poorly
uninstalled - Norton has a tendency to stick around - especially the older
versions like that - thus Symantec/Norton made a tool to cleanup their own
messes:
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Norton-Removal-Tool-for-Windows-2000XPVista/1169144666/1

Were any files lost? In other words - what files from My Documents,
Desktop, Internet Favorites, etc are missing - if any? Or is this just a
case of the old AV re-appearing?

If all the files were lost and C:\Documents and Settings\<username> for your
dad's account is not there - likely someone (you I suppose from the
information we now have) did a OEM-based system restoration process -
bringing it back to the state it was in the day it was purchased (or
there-about.) The chances of recovery of much of anything without just
recreating/reinstalling is pretty slim in that case - as things were written
over.

If the files in C:\Documents and Settings\<username> for your dad's account
is there and the other programs are still the same - things might not be
that bad. Just use the Norton Removal Tool from above and get Avira AntiVir
or eSet NOD32 - AV only (those two are good, first one free...) installed.

I pointed out the backups because it is the basic thing EVERYONE should do.
Computers are one of those rare things where everything actually important
to someone (unless they just love the hardware) can be backed up to external
media in case something catastrophic occurs. Unfortunately - most people do
not think about that until after the fact and then they get a bit touchy on
the subject. I even gave you a viable solution that should be put into
place no matter the outcome of this.

*shrug*

Doesn't bother me - I was just trying to help. I realize you might be a
little worried, a little concerned... But it's just a computer.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


From: PA Bear [MS MVP] on
As the old saying goes, no use closing the barn door after the horse is
gone.

See my first reply to your post:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/c039c099ec598d2d

PS: Sorry to hear dad lost his pix but surely you kids still have your
copies: Get reprints done and give 'em to Grandpa for Fathers Day!


Jack Bostick wrote:
> Yes it had an AV on it that expireda month ago, so i was goiung to put
> Threat AV on it. Like I said before it installed it said make a restore
> point. No Viruses. And I am not happy that i lost all his files and
> pictures he had of the grandchildren
>

> "Jack Bostick" wrote:
> >> i WAS TRING TO INSTALL AN ANTIVURUS on my dads computer and when it
> >> started
>> it said makeing a restore point. Somehow it restore back to 2003, and no
>> restore points before the 13th not even the one that it made when i was
>> instaaling program, HELP, dads nnot to pleased with me and i am 1.5 hrs
>> away